You can help to stop bullying in your school. Check your own behaviour. Refuse to be involved in any bullying situation.

• Do not allow someone to be deliberately left out of a group.
• Encourage a bullied pupil to join in with your activities or groups.

how to challenge bullying behaviour

If You See Someone Being Bullied

• Do not smile or laugh.
• Tell a member of staff what is happening.
• If you can, tell the bully to stop what they are doing.
• If you can, show the bully that you disapprove of his or her actions.

If you do nothing when you see bullying, you may be allowing it to happen, or even encouraging it

how to be proactive in your school

• Get actively involved in any Peer Support schemes that your school has developed.
• Use School Councils to air your concerns or to establish schemes that encourage opportunities for informal and formal discussions between students.

Campaign for a school council

What Are School Councils?

They are a gathering of students and staff that meet to decide what happens in your school!

If you get onto the School Council - you have a powerful voice regarding new initiatives, changes and improvements.

How Can I Get Involved?

Different schools do it in different ways - some even have elections! So to all you budding PMs out there - this is for you! Many schools do change the students on the School Council regularly - every year is a good option so the students chosen have the time to get their teeth stuck into some good big projects. Don't assume you have missed your chance - always make sure that you have expressed your interest with the staff concerned and keep your eyes peeled for posters advertising recruitment.

Remember:

• it is a great rewarding but demanding role!
• you will need to commit to meetings that are outside of school hours
• it is not about you giving your views, ideas and opinions all of the time - but of course, they will be listened to. It is about you being the spokesperson for all of the students in your school or year group - it is about you being able to get their views expressed and out in the open. You will be their representative and they will look to you to do this for them.

Still fancy it?

Then . . . what's stopping you?

be a Peer Supporter

What Is Peer Support?

A Peer Support scheme involves students working as active listeners and facilitators. They provide a safe opportunity for another student to share concerns and explore options. There are many different types of Peer Support schemes - your school will think about what is the best one for yours!

How Can I Get Involved?

IF YOUR SCHOOL ALREADY HAS A PEER SUPPORT SCHEME:

• Go to see the member of staff who deals with the scheme - normally there is 1 or 2 members of staff that oversee the training of the students. Make them aware of your interest. It is common for schools to run a rota system and train different students at different times so don't worry - you may not have missed your chance!

IF YOUR SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A PEER SUPPORT SCHEME:

• Campaign for one on the School Council!
• Put forward a proposal to the School Council!
• Talk to your immediate form tutor about the possibilities.

To begin, many schools do a questionnaire to determine the needs of the students - this would be a good way of seeing whether there is a general feeling among the students that a Peer Support scheme would be useful and welcomed. It would also help to decide what type of scheme would be best.

What Skills Do I Need To Be A Peer Supporter?

Peer Supporters need to have many skills. Have a look down the list and see if you think you have a few of these qualities. If you are interested in becoming a Peer Supporter and think that there are some you don't have - don't worry, Peer Supporters are expected to train on the job and develop their own skills. Your school should provide you with plenty of opportunities to do this.

Are you able to:

• Listen?
• Actively listen?
• Empathise? - NB: This is NOT the same as sympathise!!!
• Detach yourself from a situation?
• Communicate well?
• Work in a team situation?
• Be non-judgemental?
• Respond?
• Be non-inferring?
• Demonstrate self-control (manage your own emotions)

Are you:

• Perceptive? (presenting problems)
• Articulate?
• Dependent?
• Reliable?

It takes a very special person to be a good Peer Supporter. Want the challenge? Think that you could do it?

Every Child Matters

Have you heard these three words from the mouths of adults recently? Curious about what this is? Read on . . . . and inform yourself - because it concerns your future!

It is a Government Green Paper. Read the Children and Young People's version below to find out what it is all about: